Chapter 7: First Steps

Selene's mind was racing as she tried to remember anything that could be of help. But no matter how hard she tried, her memory remained blank.

"I'm sorry, Captain," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't remember anything."

Captain Harris looked at her sympathetically. "It's alright, Your Highness," he said. "Your memory loss is understandable given the circumstances. We'll keep searching for answers, for now, you should rest, we can continue trying to figure things out at a later time"

"In that case, I will take a rest for a while."

I laid back down on the bed and closed my eyes trying to gather everything.

My Mother and Father walked up to me and told me to rest well.

Gently rubbing my hair my father informed me that if I needed anything I could ask the maids that were standing outside.

I softly responded "Yes Father", as I watched my parents leave the room.

I lay there for a while longer, my mind wandering aimlessly as I tried to make sense of everything. It was frustrating not being able to remember anything about my past or how I had ended up in this situation.

After a while of fruitless contemplating, I got up from the bed and walked over to the window, gazing out at the beautiful view of the gardens below. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over everything. The colors of the flowers and trees seemed to come alive in the light, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and tranquility wash over me.

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, I heard a soft knock on the door. I turned around to see one of the maids standing there, a tray of food in her hands.

"Your Highness, I have brought your dinner," she said, curtsying.

"Thank you," I replied, walking over to take the tray from her. The maid flushed as she looked at me and quickly dismissed herself

I looked down at the tray and saw a small bowl of soup, some bread, and a glass of water. It wasn't much, but it was enough to sustain me. As I ate, my mind continued to wander. I couldn't help but think about the life I had before I lost my memory. What kind of person was I? What did I enjoy doing? Did I have any friends or loved ones?

I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the present. As I finished my meal, I realized that I had nothing to do. I couldn't leave the room, and I didn't have any books or other forms of entertainment. The silence was deafening, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Your Highness, it's me, Captain Harris," a voice called out.

I quickly got up from the table and walked over to the door. "Come in," I said.

Captain Harris entered the room and gave me a small smile. "How are you feeling, Your Highness?"

"I'm feeling alright, thank you," I replied.

"I'm glad to hear that. I wanted to check in on you and see if you needed anything," he said.

"I don't need anything at the moment, but thank you for asking," I said.

Captain Harris nodded. "Of course. I also wanted to let you know that we've made some progress in the investigation."

My ears perked up at this news. "What kind of progress?" I asked eagerly.

"We've identified a few potential suspects, and we're working on gathering evidence to confirm our suspicions. We're also interviewing witnesses and trying to piece together what happened on the night of your disappearance," he explained.

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief that progress was being made. "Thank you for keeping me updated, Captain."

"Of course, Your Highness. We'll keep you informed of any further developments. In the meantime, please rest and take care of yourself," he said before giving me a small bow and leaving the room.

I sighed and sat back down at the table. It was good to know that progress was being made, but I couldn't help but feel frustrated that I couldn't do anything to help. I was stuck in this room, with nothing to do but wait for my memories to return. As my mind wandered my thoughts turned to exploring the palace. I longed to explore the familiar surroundings and was curious about the various halls and rooms.

I stood up from the table and walked to the door. I checked the hallway outside to make sure that no one was there, and then I opened the door quietly.

The hallway was deserted, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I tiptoed down the hall, my heart pounding in my chest. Every creak of the floorboards seemed to echo in the quiet hallway, and I felt like I was breaking the law by sneaking around.

As I turned a corner, I nearly ran into a guard who was standing watch.

"Princess Selene!" he exclaimed, surprised to see me.

I froze, unsure of what to do. I had been caught.

The guard looked at me sternly, but then he softened his expression. "I won't report this to anyone, Your Highness," he said. "But please be careful. It's not safe for you to be wandering around on your own."

I nodded, grateful for his understanding. "Thank you," I whispered.

As the guard walked away, I realized that he was right. It wasn't safe for me to be wandering around on my own. I needed to be careful and make sure that I didn't put myself in danger.

But at the same time, I couldn't shake off the feeling of curiosity and restlessness. I needed to know more about my past, and the palace held the key to those answers.

I walked down the hallway, my eyes scanning each room I passed. Memories of each room came flooding back, but nothing stood out as significant.

I was just about to turn back towards my room when I heard a faint whisper coming from a nearby room. Curiosity getting the better of me, I quietly approached the door and pressed my ear to it.

At first, I couldn't make out what was being said, but then the whispers grew louder.

"...she can't remember anything. It's the perfect opportunity to strike," a voice said.

My blood ran cold as I realized that someone was plotting against me. I had to find out who it was and stop them before it was too late.

Before I could open the door, a figure grabbed my shoulder. I spun around, ready to defend myself, but then I recognized the face of the guard who had caught me earlier.

"What are you doing here, Your Highness?" he asked, looking surprised.

"I heard something...someone was talking about me," I said, my heart still racing from the shock.

The guard frowned. "Are you sure that you're not just tired, Your Highness?"

"I'm sure," I insisted. "I heard voices, and they were talking about me. I need to know what's going on."

The guard hesitated for a moment before nodding his head. "Very well, Your Highness. Let me investigate this matter and see if I can find out anything."

I nodded, relieved that someone was taking my concerns seriously. "Thank you," I said.

The guard left, and I waited anxiously in the hallway, wondering what he would find out. My mind raced with thoughts of who could be plotting against me and why. I couldn't shake off the feeling of danger and unease that had settled in my stomach.

As time passed, I grew more and more restless. I paced up and down the hallway, my thoughts spiraling out of control. What if the guard couldn't find anything? What if I was truly in danger, and no one was willing to help me?

Just as I was about to give up hope, the guard returned. His face was grave, and I knew that he had bad news.

"Your Highness," he said, "I'm afraid that I wasn't able to find anything. No one seems to know what you're talking about, and there's no evidence of any plots against you."

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. So, it had all been my imagination. But how could that be? I was sure that I had heard something.

"I...I don't understand," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

The guard looked at me sympathetically. "Perhaps it was just your imagination, Your Highness. You've been through a lot, and it's understandable that you might be feeling anxious."

I nodded, feeling ashamed of myself. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was just being paranoid.

"Thank you," I said, my voice barely audible. "I'm sorry to have troubled you."

The guard bowed his head. "It's my duty to protect you, Your Highness. Don't hesitate to call on me if you need anything."

I nodded and watched as he walked away. As I turned to go back to my room, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered in my mind. Something wasn't right, and I couldn't ignore it. I needed to find out the truth, no matter what it took.